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Iguaçu National Park

Brazil
Factors affecting the property in 1997*
  • Ground transport infrastructure
  • Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
  • Input of excess energy
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
  • Administration of the falls (Argentina);
  • Sound pollution (helicopters) 
International Assistance: requests for the property until 1997
Requests approved: 0
Total amount approved : 0 USD
Missions to the property until 1997**
Information presented to the Bureau of the World Heritage Committee in 1997
At its twenty-first session in June 1997, the Bureau learned that a local organisation had started a campaign to re-open a road, closed in 1986 to strengthen protection of the Park, and that in early May 1997, 800 people had invaded the Park and set up camp to begin unauthorised work to clear that road. IUCN informed the Bureau that the road has been closed, but plans to rehabilitate damaged areas were uncertain and political pressure to re-open the road still prevailed.

Action Required
The Bureau recommended the Committee to adopt the following:
"The Committee invites the Brazilian Delegate(s) expected to be present at its twentyfirst session to clarify Government policy with regard to the permanent closure of the road and future steps for rehabilitating damaged areas."
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 1997

The Bureau at its twenty-first session learnt that a local organisation was campaigning to re-open a road, closed in 1986 to strengthen protection of the Park.

In early May 1997, 800 people had invaded the Park and set up camp to begin unauthorised work to clear the road. Conservation authorities had not been able to resist political pressures and had not acted to contain the damage. As recommended by the Bureau, the Centre encouraged Brazilian authorities re-establish control over the Park to close the road and rehabilitate areas damaged by the illegal invasion; the attention of the Brazilian authorities was also drawn to the opportunity to link this Park with the World Heritage site of Iguazu National Park (Argentina) and to establish a trans-border World Heritage area. The response of the Brazilian authorities to these suggestions made by the Bureau, requested by 15 September 1997, is awaited.

Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 1997

The Bureau may wish to examine information that may be available during its session and take appropriate action thereupon.

Summary of the interventions
Decisions adopted by the Committee in 1997
21 BUR IV.B.18
Iguacu National Park (Brazil)

The Bureau noted that an alarming situation has recently developed in this Park which required urgent attention. A local organization is campaigning for the reopening of an 18 km road which was closed in 1986 to strengthen protection of the site. In early May, 800 people invaded the Park and set up camp to begin unauthorized work to re-open the road. The responsible conservation authorities have been unable to resist political pressures associated with this development and have not acted to contain the damage.

The Bureau requested the Centre to urgently contact Brazilian authorities to encourage them to re-establish control over the section of the Park to close the road and to rehabilitate the damaged areas within the Park. The Bureau observed the fact that Iguacu (Brazil) and Iguazu (Argentina) National Parks continue to remain as two separate World Heritage sites, despite the prevailing opportunity to link them into a single transborder World Heritage area for purposes of the World Heritage List.

21 COM VII.C.35
SOC: Iguacu National Park (Brazil)

VII.35 Iguacu National Park (Brazil)

The Bureau at its twenty-first session learned that a local organisation had started a campaign to re-open a road, closed in 1986 to strengthen protection of the Park, and that in early May 1997, 800 people had invaded the Park and set up camp to begin unauthorised work to clear that road. IUCN informed the Bureau that the road has been closed, but plans to rehabilitate damaged areas were uncertain and political pressure to re-open the road still prevailed.

The Centre informed the Committee that a facsimile was received from the Brazilian authorities on 28 November 1997 with information from the Brazilian Institute for the Protection of the Environment (IBAMA) concerning the state of conservation of the site. The Delegate of Brazil stated that several actions have been undertaken, including socio-economic studies in the buffer zone, environmental awareness programmes and a revision of the Master Plan of the Park.

The Committee requested the Centre to write to the Brazilian authorities to invite the Government to continue its efforts with regard to the permanent closure of the road and future steps for rehabilitating damaged areas.

Report year: 1997
Brazil
Date of Inscription: 1986
Category: Natural
Criteria: (vii)(x)
Danger List (dates): 1999-2001
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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